We want free trade with everyone but Canadians living in other provinces.

Free Trade with everyone but ourselves.
Canadians have been hearing a lot of talk about the need for and benefits from free trade with the Americans, the Europeans, the Chinese, and the Americans. Yah, let’s get it done.
What about free trade within our own country with other provinces?
Not so much.
We have been fighting amongst ourselves over healthcare, education, labour certification, lumber, minerals, water and a thousand other things. The latest is Alberta and British Columbia over oil and wine.
British Columbia with it’s fragile government put up barriers to the twinning of a pipeline, citing environmental concerns. Alberta countered with a ban on British Columbia’s wine.
There is a connection between oil and air pollution but there is also a connection between wine and alcohol related deaths. So is one government more righteous than the other? No, they both looking after the economic well being of their respective provinces.
British Columbia has great dealings with other governments over their energy resources, especially in the north, so they are not so pure in their stance. Alberta will continue to drink their wine, most notably from other countries.
The Federal government is the missing player in this game. They have the power to solve this situation. They can push the pipeline, which they previously approved, through British Columbia’s legal challenge. Will they?
Alberta has not been a supporter of this federal government and British Columbia has shown more support. This government needs British Columbia seats in the next election and will not gain any seats in Alberta in any case.
If they push the pipeline agenda they will be seen as anti-environment and lose seats in British Columbia and possibly in other areas that are environmentally sensitive areas.
If they do not push the pipeline agenda, they may retain their seats in British Columbia but may lose seats in the more right-wing economic sensitive ridings in other parts of the country.
We, Albertans, have been consistent in denouncing the Liberals for everything they have done or said, oftentimes without justification, in the past. We are reaping what we have sown in the political arena, as we wait for the next shoe to drop.
Mr. Trudeau, will push the pipeline agenda, and there will be people who will still complain, drive cars, fly airplanes, heat their homes and drink wine, drive under the influence, or know someone who will die due in some part to alcohol.
Then we will find another provincial barrier to argue about while we clamour for free trade with everyone else. Right?

When it comes to facilities north of the river, am I beating a dead horse?

33 years ago the last school to be built north of the river opened it’s doors.
37 years ago the last swimming pool, (G.H.Dawe) opened it’s doors north of the river.
There has never been a high school built north of the river.
Odd since about one third of Red Deer’s population lives north of the river, sometimes going up to 40%.
Twice yesterday, it was suggested that I give up on lobbying for a high school north of the river.
It is tiresome for others as it is not going to happen. It has already been decided, no matter what public needs demand.
So when should a person give up trying to right a wrong, fight an injustice? Never.
Does it make people, bureaucrats and politicians uncomfortable and thus write this off as the ramblings of a grumpy old man? Apparently.
The city will have 6 high schools south of the river and 5 of those east of 30 Ave. There are fewer residents east of 30 Ave than north of the river but they will have 5 high schools to choose from with easy and quick access, while 1/3 of the students will have to commute across the city twice a day, even more if they wish to participate in extra-curricular activities.
I have been accused of being a one-trick pony, and to give it up.
There are 12 recreational complexes in Red Deer, indoor pools, rinks, curling and skating yet 11 of them are south of the river, with the 37 year old Dawe Center being the only one in the north. This time there are 4 of the 9 councillors and mayor supporting building the next aquatic centre north of the river.
That only took 37 years to get a possible, maybe in 4 more years we may possibly get another school north of the river.
Maybe I should not give up, just yet.
Maybe this old man, residing in the south end of town, (Sunnybrook), who will never attend a new school or swim in a new pool, defy his critics and continue to fight a continued decades old injustice?
Any objections?

Opinion by Aileen Jang, Pharmacist

95% of Albertans polled named pharmacists as the most accessible healthcare professional. Year after year, pharmacists have ranked among the top 3 as the most trusted profession. On May 17, 2018 the new pharmacy Funding Framework will come into effect and the Alberta government claims there will be a savings of $150 million dollars.

The goal of every government is to reduce spending and cut costs. As a taxpayer, I agree with this but only if it is done in a manner that is not harmful to its citizens. When funding is decreased to the pharmacy, patients will ultimately be the ones to pay the price. Wait times for filling your prescriptions; consultations on your medications and health conditions; and injection services will all increase. The reality is that patient care will suffer when pharmacists no longer have the resources to provide the services Albertans have come to rely on.

This past influenza campaign, pharmacists provided 51% of the vaccinations. The reduced fee to community pharmacies for providing this service in future will decrease this number. The result will be an increased strain to the public health clinics and physician offices ultimately resulting in added costs and strain to the healthcare system.

In 2017, pharmacists helped over 16,000 Albertans in their attempt to quit smoking. This service alone will save the system healthcare dollars by improving the health of our patients.

Pharmacists provided over 500,000 Albertans with prescription renewals when they were unable to see or find a family physician. This service allows pharmacist to work with the physician and patient to improve their health while saving the healthcare system money.

Pharmacists are health professionals and want to provide high quality care. However, the NDP government has signaled that patient care is not important, instead focusing solely on a budget that is largely beyond the control of pharmacists as drug costs are not set by pharmacies but by government and big pharma. For these reasons, pharmacists are upset and demanding dialogue but have met with ignorance of the facts and empty promises to engage with us.